Dover Athletic manager Jake Leberl concedes it felt like ‘men versus boys’ as Whites suffer 3-0 home National League South defeat to Maidenhead United

Boss Jake Leberl conceded it felt like “men versus boys” during Dover’s home defeat against Maidenhead United on Saturday.

Whites’ bright start to the National League South season was checked as it finished 3-0 to former Margate defender Ryan Peters’ Ravens at Crabble.

Maidenhead had taken the lead after a cagey start as defender Remy Clerima was credited with the goal.

Initially, Leberl’s men put in a stronger second-half performance - but lost defender Roman Charles-Cook to a second bookable offence - before further goals from strikers Connor Hall and Josh Umerah made the visitors' numerical advantage pay.

There had been some home suggestions of a foul ahead of Clerima’s opener as a corner was swung in by captain Josh Coley but, asked if he had seen any potential infringement, Leberl replied: “No.

“I just felt, all afternoon, that they were stronger than us.

"I did feel it was men versus boys."

Dover’s defeat came after they had twice been pegged back in draws against Braintree and Chesham United over the Bank Holiday weekend but Leberl denied he had seen such a poor performance coming.

He said: “Not necessarily, although we know all about them.

“We played against them last year, with a similar team, they’re really effective at doing what they do, and we did all our homework on them. They’re very strong from set-pieces.

“We gave the players all the information but ultimately, even with all the information, we couldn’t stop them.”

Grenada international Charles-Cook, 22, became the first player in referee Daniel England’s book for a late challenge on keeper Jordi van Stappershoef on 26 minutes before he also took out ex-Ebbsfleet man Coley in midfield in the second period.

“The first one, he has pressed but it’s a